Annual flower mixtures are suitable for increasing the supply of flowers in agricultural landscapes over the summer and thus improving the nutritional basis for pollinating insects. This is the result of a study commissioned by the IfLS as part of the ongoing evaluation of Baden-Württemberg's rural development programme (MEPL III).
The universities of Freiburg and Würzburg have been won over to cooperate. Field investigations were carried out as part of bachelor theses and the frequency and species richness of bees, butterflies and hoverflies were recorded. In July and August 2018, areas were mapped in two regions of Baden-Württemberg on which different flower mixtures were sown or which served as reference areas within the framework of the support programme for agri-environment, climate protection and animal welfare (FAKT).
In particular, a higher number and more species of bees but also more butterflies could be observed on the FAKT areas. In order to preserve insect populations, however, in addition to the annual flowering areas in the landscape, habitats are required that offer permanent nesting and feeding opportunities.
The study is available here (in German).
Contact Persons: Heike Nitsch (nitsch[at]ifls.de) and Jörg Schramek (schramek[at]ifls.de)
